Enterprise Transformation

Transforming HII: Cloud Center of Excellence

Digital technology is transforming the way me meet customer expectations – with greater efficiency and more affordability. The Cloud Center of Excellence, a capability HII’s Technical Solutions division is developing, provides employees best-in-breed cybersecurity and software development tools along with quick and as-needed access to servers, databases and other IT services.

Dana McKnight, chief technology officer for Technical Solutions’ Fleet Support Group, discusses how the Cloud Center of Excellence will help employees collaborate with their customers and HII partners to develop world-class solutions while also meeting or exceeding cybersecurity compliance.

Transforming HII: KPx Digital Technology

Digital technology is transforming the way we build ships. Gordon Mount, an engineering manager at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division, discusses KP Cable, a digital tool designed to drive efficiency into the cable installation process, and KP Equipment, a digital roadmap of electrical equipment being utilized on John F. Kennedy (CVN 79).

“If it’s the first time they’re going to the ship and into a certain area and they don’t know where the boxes are, they can pull up an equipment map in less than eight seconds for their box, and they can see right where all of those components are. Before, that would take a lot of research … this is the wave of the future.”

Transforming HII: SPACES

Ingalls Shipbuilding is transforming its culture to promote a safe work environment for shipbuilders through its Situational Perception and Condition Evaluation Simulator (SPACES).

Chris Buzbee, a safety engineer at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, says “SPACES is transformational because it’s putting safety in the hands of the workers and I think that’s very important. It’s giving them ownership.”

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Branding and Digital Media

Digital media tools such as opt-in texting and mobile apps are transforming the way information is shared with employees and other stakeholders.

Kimberly Nastasi, communications director at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, says utilizing digital media tools is “about ensuring that the messages we have that define who we are, our mission and our purpose are reaching the stakeholders that it needs to.”

Additive Manufacturing

With additive manufacturing, parts are made layer by layer, which provide opportunities to incorporate new features that can’t be accomplished with traditional manufacturing, such as casting and forging.

Daniel Hebert, an engineer at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division, says, “I started off on carrier new construction, and being able to reach back and see the products and the components that we worked on then, how additive can affect those, and how we’ll use additive in the future to improve those items has really been an amazing, amazing project.”

BeWell

“HII has transformed its approach to employee benefits and wellness,” says Karen Velkey, corporate vice president of compensation and benefits. “We’re highlighting all of our programs across all three of the areas that we focus on, which is healthy body, healthy wallet and healthy mind.”

“BeWell” provides employees the tools to take ownership of their physical and mental health, and their financial futures. “If you really step back and if you’re able to take a look at where we were — in my case 18 years ago –it’s a huge change. We have made huge strides.”

Transforming HII, Every Single Day

“Transformation is about doing more today than you did yesterday,” HII President and CEO Mike Petters says. “Getting stronger, faster, more effective, more efficient. And with the right innovations and people, that’s what we’re doing at HII every single day.”

“It’s saying that well-being is important,” she said. “In my 30 years of health care experience, I have never seen a company invest so much in well-being. That alone is going to transform not just the company and the culture, but it’s going to transform the business by employees being able to bring their best selves to work every day.”

Talent Development Labs at Ingalls

Ingalls Shipbuilding‘s Talent Development Labs—a year-old partnership with Gulf Coast high schools—are another example of how the division is developing the shipbuilders of the future.

“The talent labs are transforming our communities,” said Edmond Hughes, Ingalls’ vice president, Human Resources and Administration, “by allowing us to show students what are the careers that are available and the options that are out there for them if they want to remain here in the community.”

Ingalls' Workforce Development

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division is transforming workforce development with its Signing Day and Future Shipbuilder Discovery Day initiatives.

“Signing Day is really important for our students because … they’re choosing to go to work instead of go to college,” said Victoria Hunt, manager of Ingalls’ Shipbuilder Academy. “So we wanted to make sure that our students knew that it was just as amazing for them to receive job offers at the age of 18 than it was to go to college.”